Feeder for perforating-machines.



No. 634,246. P-atentod'flot. 3. I899.

- C. S. PERKINS.

FEEDER FOR PEBFORATING MACHINES.

, (Application filed Sept. 28, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shoot L Am man-Mu '1 YHE NORRIS PETERS c0, wuo'ruumm, WASHINGTCW. u. c,

Patented on. 3, I899. c. s. PERKINS. FEEDER FOR PEBFORATING MACHINE S.

(Application filed Sept. 26, 1898.)

2 Shasta-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

rrnn STATES PATENT FFIQE.

CHARLES S. PERKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN P. PRICE AND ROBERT P. PRICE, OF SAME PLACE.

FEEDER'FOR PERFORATlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 634,246, dated October 3, 1899.

pp cation fi ed $eptem'ber 26. 1898. Serial No 691,936. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeders for Perforating-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. I

My invention relates to means for advanc- IO ing the sheets to be perforated bya perforating-machine the proper distance and holding them in regular form while the perforating operation takes place. I

The'primary object of my invention is to provide means for holding the block or pile of paper in the desired position with relation to the line of perforating needles or punches and advancing them with accuracy and speed the desired distance for forming one or more lines of perforations at either equal or unequal distances apart, as the nature of the work requires.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty inthe con- 2 5 struction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

111 the said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the tableof a perforating-machine and its superstructure, show- 7 ing the same equipped with my improved 5 feeding device, the section being taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, part of the table being broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the feeding mechanism looking toward the feeding end of 0 the machine, an intermediate portion being broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the clamps, partly 5 in section, a portion of the carriage being also shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail plan section of one end of the carriage and one of the side rails, showing the locking-dog and one of the stops; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the stops and the graduated bar in which it is held,"the locking dog orlatch being also shown in section.

1 represents the table of an ordinary perforatingmachine; 2, the rising-and-falling head or bar which carries the perforating needlesor punches 3; 4, the stripper, and 5 the female die arranged upon the table 1 and being of the usual or any suitable construction.

Located along opposite sides of the table 1, parallel with each other and also parallel with the line of movement which the paper takes when passing through the perforating-machine, aretwo bars or rails 6 7, (more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) each provided in its upper surface with a rack 8, upon which latter rest a pair of cogs or pinions 9, the outer edges of the bars 6 7 being provided with upwardly-projecting flanges 10 for holding the pinions 9 in place. The pinions 9 are mounted upon and keyed to a transverse shaft 11, 7o journaled in suitable hangers or boxes 12, formed on the upper edge of a transverse bar or casting 13, having a horizontal foot piece or flange 14:, and constituting a carriage for holding the edges of the paper or sheets to be advanced under the perforating-needles. The ends of the bar or casting 13 are provided with horizontal tongues 15, which engage in longitudinal grooves formed in the opposed faces of the bars 6 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thus holding the'carriage down and at the same time preventing one end being pushed in advance of the other.

The horizontal foot piece or flange 14 of the carriage is arranged in close proximity to the surface of the table 1 and is comparatively thin, so as to be easily'slipped under one or more of the sheets to beperforated, and the sheets are held securely on this foot-piece while the carriage is advanced back and forth by means of suitable clamps. These clamps preferably consist of one or more presser-feet 16, each having a stem 17 passing upwardly through a box 18, containing a spring 19, which presses upon a shoulder 20, formed on 5 the stem 17, and thus forces the presser-foot 16 downwardly against the flange 14 and holds the paper in place. In order that these presserfeet 16 may be released at the will of the operator, the upper end of each of the stems 17 1.00

is pivoted to a thumb-lever 21, fulcrumed in a standard 22 on the top of the casting 23, which supports the box 18, and the outer end of this lever 21 is provided with a catch or dog 2-t,whieh engages under a tooth 25, formed on the back of the casting 23, when the free end of the thumb-lever 21 is depressed. In order that these catches or dogs 24 may be automatically and, if desired, simultaneously released wlthout requiring the operator to release the paper as he holds it in position for the engagement of the presser-feet 16, the dogs 24 are provided with downwardly-extending tailpieces 26, which are adapted to be struck by trip-lugs 27 revolvi n g with the shaft 11, such lugs being formed on or projected from collars E28, adjustably secured to the shaftllbyscrews 29 or other suitable means. The usual method of inserting the paper under the presser-feet consists in first raising the presser-feet and locking them by means of their dogs or catches 24 and then inserting the block or pile of paper as far under the presser-feet as it can be pushed, and the act of pushing the paper back against the carriage will also force the carriage toward the operator and revolve the shaft 11 and as a consequence trip the dogs 24. and permit the presser-feet to simultaneously descend upon the paper without requiring the operator to release his hold upon it until it is firmly gripped by these clamps on the carriage.

In order that the clamps having the prcsserfeet 16 may be adjusted longitudinally of the carriage for adapting the machine for use for various widths of sheets, the castings 23 are adjustably secured to the bar 1 3. This may be best accomplished by providing the face of the bar 13 with a longitudinal dovetail or other suitable groove, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 5, and locating on the back of each of the castiu gs 23 a rectangular tongue 30,which fits into the dovetail groove, and thus prevents the casting 23 from twisting, while the screw 31, passing through the casting and engaging in a dovetailed nut 32, located in the dovetail groove, drives the casting 23 firmly against the face of the bar 13 and binds the parts together, there being always a slight space between the opposed faces of the tongue 30 and nut \Vhcn the castings 23 are adjusted, the collars 28 may also be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft ll, so as to be in position to strike the tailpieces 26.

It is often the case that the printed matter of the form to be perforated is not exactly parallel with the edge of the sheet, and this necessitates the sheet being advanced to the perforating-ncedles at a slight angle to the line of perforations, and in order to provide for this contingency I provide the carriage with an adjustable gage-bar arranged in the corner formed by the barlS and the flange 1t and being in such a position that the rear edges of the sheets will abut thereagainst as the operator slides them under the presserfeet 16. This gage-bar 3-) is let into a slight rabbeted portion or groove 34:, formed in the upper face of the flange 14 and being of sufficient width to permit the bar 33 being adjusted bodily back and forth or swung outwardly or inwardly at either end, so as to present a face for the abutment of the sheets that will be parallel with the rear edges of the sheets, while the edge of the form on the sheet will be parallel with the line of perforating-needles. This longitudinal gage-bar 33 may be provided with any suitable means for adjusting it or holding it to its adjustment. I have shown the bar provided at or near each end with a set-screw 35, threaded in the plate 13 and having a reduced end 30, passing through horizontal slots 37 in the gage-bar 33, and having heads 38 countersunk in the outer face of the gage-bar, thus forming means for the independent adjustment of the ends of the gage-bar. If desired, the gage-bar at or about its midlength maybe provided with a set-screw 30, working in a suitable slot tOin the foot-flange It, for holding the gage-bar down in place in the rabbeted portion 3t, and thus insuring against the gage-bar buckling or bending upward and permitting the sheets to engage thereunder. Ordinarily, however, this may be prevented by letting the gage-bar into the face of the flange 14, as shown.

The gage-bar is for the purpose of truing up the rear edges of the pile or block, and their side edges maybe trued up by any suitable gage 41, which may be adjustably held to the bar 13 by means similar to that already described for holding the casting The side rail or bar (3 is provided with a longitudinal dovetail groove 42, in which is located one or more dovetail blocks 43, each having formed thereon or secured thereto a projection it, which extends outwardly beyond the vertical plane of the inner face of the bar 6 and forms a stop for arresting the carriage at the proper position for holding the sheets to be perforated. In order that the carriage may be thus arrested and at the same time advanced past any nuinberof these stops 44:,the carriage is provided with a springcatch which automaticallyengages therewith when the carriage is moved in one direction, but slips past the space when moved in the other direct-ion. This catch consists of asliding bolt 45, preferably cylindrical and having its outer end beveled, so as to engage with and slide over the beveled surface of the dog 44, but when encountering the dog on the other side will be arrested thereby. This bolt is located in a box or casing 46, formed on the back of the plate 13 and containing a spiral spring 47, surrounding a stem 48 of the bolt and pressing the boltnormallyoutward. The bolt may be withdrawn at the willof the operator by means of a sliding thumb-piece att (see Fig. 3,) having a slot 50 fitting over a tongue 51, east on the back of the plate 13, and receiving a screw 52, whose head holds the slide 10 in place. The end of the thumbpiece or slide 49is connected by aspring wire or rod 53 to the stem 48 in such a manner as to hold the bolt 45 normally in the position shown'in Fig. 6, with its beveled surface presented to the beveled surface of the dog 44 when moving toward it, so that by means of a pin 54, running in a slot 55 in the box 46, and a notch 56 at the end of such slot the bolt 45 when withdrawn maybe locked in position, the pin 54 being tu rned npwardlyinto the notch 56 and held there by the friction induced by the spring 47; but as soon as the spring 47 is further compressed by a pull on the thumb-piece 49 the rotalive tendency of the spring-rod 53 will throw the pin 54 down into the slot 55 and permit the spring 47 to force the bolt 45 outinto its normal position.

The dogs 44 maybe set at any adjustment to suit the character of the work to be done,

it being understood that Where a single sheet is to be provided with a number of lines of perforations arranged at the same distance apart the paper or pile of paper will be inserted under the presser-feet l6 and the gagebar 33 adj usted as before described, and after the paper is firmly clamped by such presserfeet the carriage will be moved forward until the first one of the stops 44-that is, the one nearest the operator-has been passed, and then by pulling the carriage backward the catch 45 will engage with the stop 44 and hold the carriage in the proper position for the first line of perforations. After making the first line of perforations the carriage is advanced toward the perforator until the catch 45 slips over the stop 44, whereupon the carriage may be pulled back firmly against the stop 44 for holding the paper in position for the perforator, and so 011 for each succeeding line of perforations, the carriage being advanced beyond each stop and then brought back against it. The stops 44 are of course set the required distances apart for each job and are held in place by set-screws 57 passing through the blocks 43 and abutting against the inner side of the dovetail groove 42, and in order to better determine the position of the stop 44 the latter is provided withan upwardly-extending index or pointer 58, which points to suitable graduations indicated on the face of the bar 6, as shown in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a table or support for the sheets to be perforated, a gagebar for truing the edges of the sheets, movable thereacross, a series of stops fixed with relation to said table or support and a dog or catch in connection with said gage-bar for engaging said stops, substantially as set forth.

2. A feeding device for perforating-ma.- chines, having in combination a carriage, clamps on said carriage for holding thereon the edges of the sheets to be perforated, means for holding said clamps aloof from the sheets and means carried by the carriage for tripping and applying the clamps simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

3. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage, a shaft journaled therein and having wheels, a clamp for holding the edges of the sheets on the carriage, means for holding the clamp aloof from the sheets and a trip on said shaft for applying said clamp, substantially as set forth.

4. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage, a clamp on said carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated,athuinbdever for lifting said clamp out of engagement, a dog secured to said thumb-lever for holding the clamp out of engagement and having a tailpiece, a shaft journaled in and rotating in unison with the movement of said carriage and a trip on said shaft for engaging said tailpiece and releasing said dog, substantially as set forth.

5. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a table .or support for the sheets to be perforated, a carriage having a foot flange or plate located close to the table and adapted to slip under the sheets to be perforated, means for clamping the edges of the sheets upon said foot-flange,

stops fixed with relation to the table and a catch on the carriage for engaging said stops, substantially as set forth.

6. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage for supporting the edges of thesheets to be perforated, provided with the foot-flange 14 having a rabbeted portion or groove, and an adjustable gage-bar set in said rabbeted portion or groove and having its ends independently movable, substantially as set forth.

7. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage, clamps on the carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated, said clamps being adjustable transversely of the line of movement of the carriage, a shaft rotated by the movement of the carriage, catches for holding the clamps aloof and adjustable trips on said shaft for releasing said catches, substantially as set forth.

8. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a pair of rackbars, cogs or pinions engaging therewith, a shaft connecting said cogs or pinions, a carriage in which said shaft is j ournaled, adj ust- .able stops and a catch on said carriage for engaging said stops, substantially as set forth.

9. A feeding device for perforating machines, having in combination a carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated, one or more stops having beveled faces, and a deflectable catch or dog on the carriage for engaging with said stops, substantially as set forth. l

10. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated, a bar provided with one or more adj ustable stops and having graduations marked thereon, each of said stops being provided with an index pointing to said graduation, and a catch on the carriage for engaging the stops, substantially as set forth.

11. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination two parallel bars having grooves in their opposed faces, a carriage having tongues engaging in said grooves, racks formed on said bars, a shaft mounted in said carriage and cogs on said shaft, resting in said racks, adjustable stops, and a catch carried by the carriage for engaging said stops, substantially as set forth.

12. A feeding device for perforating-machines, having in combination a carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated, a longitudinal gage-bar having its ends independently adjustable on said carriage, and a second gage mounted on said carriage and being adjustable transversely of the line of movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

13. A feeding device for PGIfOIMJlIlg-dlldchines, having in combination a carriage for holding the edges of the sheets to be perforated, adjustable stops, a spring-bolt carried by the carriage and adapted to engage said stops, a box containing said bolt and having the slot 55 and notch 56, the pin 54, the thumbpiece 49, and a spring-rod 53 connecting said thumb-piece with said bolt, substantially as set forth.

CHAS. S. PERKINS.

\Vitnesses:

EDNA B. JoHNsoN, F. A. IIoPKINs. 

